A BIZARRE incident which saw a large lorry crash into two parked cars has highlighted Cricklade residents safety concerns over heavy goods vehicles in the
town.

The incident happened yesterday lunchtime when the lorry, which was carrying two large skips, dislodged the two vehicles from their parking spaces and pushed them down the road, blocking access to
the High Street between Calcutt Street and the B4040.

The cause of the collision is not yet known, but both the blue Alfa Romeo and blue Vauxhall Zafira were left badly damaged and blocked the road for several hours.

No one was injured in the crash, but it has sparked fresh concern from residents about the number of HGVs that use the narrow High Street.

Bob Jones, chairman of the Cricklade Business Association, helped ease the congestion as he donned a hi-vis vest and stood on the roundabout at the junction with Calcutt Street diverting traffic.

“I was dropping my wife off at the bank and I just heard an almighty crunch,” he said. “The truck had only just come past me and as far as I know collided with the two parked cars.

“Recently we have carried out surveys regarding the number of HGVs going through Cricklade.

“It is of great concern to people living here and is a great concern to the businesses.

“This is something that has been coming and it is just a relief that nobody was in the car, or they could have been badly hurt.

“The town council is aware of our concerns and I think this just highlights them.”

Patricia Woods was walking past shortly after the collision happened and said it was the second time she had seen a parked car hit in the High Street.

She said: “This is not the first time I have seen one of these large lorries cause an accident.

“It is dangerous, especially because there are a lot of elderly residents in Cricklade, and these big lorries rattle and shake the place when they come through.

“I think something needs to be done to put a stop to it, so they can find an alternative route.”

Wiltshire Police are investigating what happened and anyone with any information should call 101.

Comments

The article assumes of course that the cars were parked correctly within the spaces......

The article assumes of course that the cars were parked correctly within the spaces......mrchickenman

The article assumes of course that the cars were parked correctly within the spaces......

Score: 0

PaulD
8:53am Wed 26 Sep 12

what a silly comment. Whether they were or weren't doesn't warrant such irresponsible driving by the lorry driver

what a silly comment. Whether they were or weren't doesn't warrant such irresponsible driving by the lorry driverPaulD

what a silly comment. Whether they were or weren't doesn't warrant such irresponsible driving by the lorry driver

Score: 0

swindondad
9:05am Wed 26 Sep 12

Gents you are both half right.

If a driver is in colition with any stationary object it is his fault, however an badly parked vehicle could be a contributary / mitigating factor.

Hows that for evenhanded.

Gents you are both half right.
If a driver is in colition with any stationary object it is his fault, however an badly parked vehicle could be a contributary / mitigating factor.
Hows that for evenhanded.swindondad

Gents you are both half right.

If a driver is in colition with any stationary object it is his fault, however an badly parked vehicle could be a contributary / mitigating factor.

Hows that for evenhanded.

Score: 0

AndySN3
9:20am Wed 26 Sep 12

I am sure the driver of the HGV didn't set out to damage 2 cars, and whilst this is an unfortunate accident, the reaction of "local residents" is to "ban lorries from our town" again!!.
How do these people think that food and drink etc is delivered to their local shops and pubs??
HGV driver's are already subject to ongoing training, so perhaps the council should instead start to look at how their towns are laid out, and if it is they that cause these problems by deliberately making roads narrower and "vehicle unfriendly" rather than blaming HGV driver's. Just a thought!

I am sure the driver of the HGV didn't set out to damage 2 cars, and whilst this is an unfortunate accident, the reaction of "local residents" is to "ban lorries from our town" again!!.
How do these people think that food and drink etc is delivered to their local shops and pubs??
HGV driver's are already subject to ongoing training, so perhaps the council should instead start to look at how their towns are laid out, and if it is they that cause these problems by deliberately making roads narrower and "vehicle unfriendly" rather than blaming HGV driver's. Just a thought!AndySN3

I am sure the driver of the HGV didn't set out to damage 2 cars, and whilst this is an unfortunate accident, the reaction of "local residents" is to "ban lorries from our town" again!!.
How do these people think that food and drink etc is delivered to their local shops and pubs??
HGV driver's are already subject to ongoing training, so perhaps the council should instead start to look at how their towns are laid out, and if it is they that cause these problems by deliberately making roads narrower and "vehicle unfriendly" rather than blaming HGV driver's. Just a thought!

Score: 0

RichardR1
9:49am Wed 26 Sep 12

I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places.

That said if the lorry driver was in any doubt he should have stopped. If he thought it was OK then perhaps an eye test might be in order.

I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places.
That said if the lorry driver was in any doubt he should have stopped. If he thought it was OK then perhaps an eye test might be in order.RichardR1

I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places.

That said if the lorry driver was in any doubt he should have stopped. If he thought it was OK then perhaps an eye test might be in order.

Score: 0

PaulD
9:55am Wed 26 Sep 12

Are these type of skip lorries classed as an HGV?

Are these type of skip lorries classed as an HGV?PaulD

Are these type of skip lorries classed as an HGV?

Score: 0

original harlequin
9:58am Wed 26 Sep 12

There are several issues here.
Primarily speed - many drivers car, lorries and local residence exceed the 20mph manditary speed limit.

Also the level of driving within Cricklade is absolutely appauling; double parking, sudden stopping and turning without warning.

There is a general disregard for both the law and safety on the roads within Cricklade.

Unless someone does something urgently there will be a fatality, most likely an innocent predestrian crossing the road on a zebra crossing.

There are several issues here.
Primarily speed - many drivers car, lorries and local residence exceed the 20mph manditary speed limit.
Also the level of driving within Cricklade is absolutely appauling; double parking, sudden stopping and turning without warning.
There is a general disregard for both the law and safety on the roads within Cricklade.
Unless someone does something urgently there will be a fatality, most likely an innocent predestrian crossing the road on a zebra crossing.original harlequin

There are several issues here.
Primarily speed - many drivers car, lorries and local residence exceed the 20mph manditary speed limit.

Also the level of driving within Cricklade is absolutely appauling; double parking, sudden stopping and turning without warning.

There is a general disregard for both the law and safety on the roads within Cricklade.

Unless someone does something urgently there will be a fatality, most likely an innocent predestrian crossing the road on a zebra crossing.

Score: 0

Robh
10:02am Wed 26 Sep 12

20mph and traffic calming does not work with some HGV drivers. They think size counts and ignore rights of way. Several times I have been forced to stop by HGV's in the traffic calmed areas of Cricklade. I try to consider them but there are many who simply ignore the most basic rules of the road.

20mph and traffic calming does not work with some HGV drivers. They think size counts and ignore rights of way. Several times I have been forced to stop by HGV's in the traffic calmed areas of Cricklade. I try to consider them but there are many who simply ignore the most basic rules of the road.Robh

20mph and traffic calming does not work with some HGV drivers. They think size counts and ignore rights of way. Several times I have been forced to stop by HGV's in the traffic calmed areas of Cricklade. I try to consider them but there are many who simply ignore the most basic rules of the road.

Score: 0

rmc001
1:10pm Wed 26 Sep 12

It doesn't matter how you look at this, there are always going to be lorries running through Cricklade, as any traffic travelling north from West Swindon, Wootton Bassett, and Junction 16, would go through here, especially with Tadpole Lane being closed for months.
Perhaps as a temporary measure there should be yellow lines with a minimum waiting time down the high street? That way there would be no need for the delivery vans to have to double park. Other towns don't allow cars to park along the high street, why is this one different?

It doesn't matter how you look at this, there are always going to be lorries running through Cricklade, as any traffic travelling north from West Swindon, Wootton Bassett, and Junction 16, would go through here, especially with Tadpole Lane being closed for months.
Perhaps as a temporary measure there should be yellow lines with a minimum waiting time down the high street? That way there would be no need for the delivery vans to have to double park. Other towns don't allow cars to park along the high street, why is this one different?rmc001

It doesn't matter how you look at this, there are always going to be lorries running through Cricklade, as any traffic travelling north from West Swindon, Wootton Bassett, and Junction 16, would go through here, especially with Tadpole Lane being closed for months.
Perhaps as a temporary measure there should be yellow lines with a minimum waiting time down the high street? That way there would be no need for the delivery vans to have to double park. Other towns don't allow cars to park along the high street, why is this one different?

Score: 0

Trend
1:27pm Wed 26 Sep 12

It is an odd one. The parking (assuming they were parked legally) just before that point is at the side of the road in a designated bay. The driver would have had to veer off the road into the parked cars and then push them down the road. I wonder if they were actually parked on the double yellow lines just beyond the parking bays.

It is an odd one. The parking (assuming they were parked legally) just before that point is at the side of the road in a designated bay. The driver would have had to veer off the road into the parked cars and then push them down the road. I wonder if they were actually parked on the double yellow lines just beyond the parking bays.Trend

It is an odd one. The parking (assuming they were parked legally) just before that point is at the side of the road in a designated bay. The driver would have had to veer off the road into the parked cars and then push them down the road. I wonder if they were actually parked on the double yellow lines just beyond the parking bays.

Score: 0

Robh
3:44pm Wed 26 Sep 12

It doesn't really matter where these cars were parked it doesn't mean a vehicle can just drive into them.

Most lorries, sorry all lorries have brakes or is this driver one of the plonkers who rarely uses them and would sooner sound their horn instead.

It doesn't really matter where these cars were parked it doesn't mean a vehicle can just drive into them.
Most lorries, sorry all lorries have brakes or is this driver one of the plonkers who rarely uses them and would sooner sound their horn instead.Robh

It doesn't really matter where these cars were parked it doesn't mean a vehicle can just drive into them.

Most lorries, sorry all lorries have brakes or is this driver one of the plonkers who rarely uses them and would sooner sound their horn instead.

Score: 0

itsamess3
6:31pm Wed 26 Sep 12

From the photo it seems one car is illegally parked half on the pavement-half over double yellows--no mention of a ticket for obstruction (pavement) or by the parking wardens for parking on yellows.
Second car is clearly blocking the road whilst parked on double yellows.

Well spotted bob--the photo demonstrates that perfectly.

"I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places"

From the photo it seems one car is illegally parked half on the pavement-half over double yellows--no mention of a ticket for obstruction (pavement) or by the parking wardens for parking on yellows.
Second car is clearly blocking the road whilst parked on double yellows.
Well spotted bob--the photo demonstrates that perfectly.
"I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places"itsamess3

From the photo it seems one car is illegally parked half on the pavement-half over double yellows--no mention of a ticket for obstruction (pavement) or by the parking wardens for parking on yellows.
Second car is clearly blocking the road whilst parked on double yellows.

Well spotted bob--the photo demonstrates that perfectly.

"I have to say having visited this town on many occasions car drivers do tend to just abandon their vehicles in the oddest of places"

Score: 0

Trend
8:58pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Having driven past this evening I would say that they were in the parking bay as the bollard at the end of it has been destroyed. So the question remains, what the heck was the lorry driver doing to veer off into the parking bay and push two cars several feet up the road?

Having driven past this evening I would say that they were in the parking bay as the bollard at the end of it has been destroyed. So the question remains, what the heck was the lorry driver doing to veer off into the parking bay and push two cars several feet up the road?Trend

Having driven past this evening I would say that they were in the parking bay as the bollard at the end of it has been destroyed. So the question remains, what the heck was the lorry driver doing to veer off into the parking bay and push two cars several feet up the road?

Score: 0

some-kid
10:36pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Something definitely needs to be done. There are several school and college buses that go through Cricklade and people should be concerned about the safety of the students as well as the residents.

Perhaps ban vehicles from parking on the high street except for unloading deliveries?

Something definitely needs to be done. There are several school and college buses that go through Cricklade and people should be concerned about the safety of the students as well as the residents.
Perhaps ban vehicles from parking on the high street except for unloading deliveries?some-kid

Something definitely needs to be done. There are several school and college buses that go through Cricklade and people should be concerned about the safety of the students as well as the residents.

Perhaps ban vehicles from parking on the high street except for unloading deliveries?

Ipsoregulated

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